George Clooney, the iconic Hollywood actor and activist, is reportedly seething at former President Barack Obama, whom he blames for his high-profile role in urging President Joe Biden to step down from his 2024 reelection campaign. Sources close to Clooney claim he feels used and abandoned after Kamala Harris's historic but unsuccessful presidential bid left him as the face of the Democratic Party's political misstep.
In July, Clooney published an explosive opinion piece calling for Biden, 82, to step aside, citing concerns over his "declining mental faculties." "We are not going to win in November with this president," Clooney declared. Just days later, Biden announced he would not seek reelection, paving the way for Vice President Harris to lead the ticket.
Behind the scenes, however, it was reportedly Obama who persuaded Clooney to take the lead in calling for Biden's exit, leveraging their close friendship. A political insider told RadarOnline that Obama feared public backlash if he personally urged Biden, his former vice president, to withdraw. "Obama and Clooney have been tight for years," the source said. "George became Barack's surrogate in leading the charge for Joe to step away."
But when Harris's campaign fell short, Clooney bore the brunt of the backlash. Democrats lashed out at him for disrupting the party's strategy, while Republicans mocked his failed efforts. "Trump should not forget to thank Hollywood celebrities, especially George Clooney," one Trump supporter quipped online.
"George is furious with Obama for disappearing after the election disaster and leaving him holding the bag," an insider revealed, as reported by National Enquirer. "He feels duped and vows he's not going to be anyone's political water boy anymore."
Business Times is unable to independently verify this claim.
Clooney reportedly expected Obama to publicly defend his actions and acknowledge that the plan to replace Biden was a joint effort. Instead, the actor feels abandoned, with no acknowledgment from Obama of the risks Clooney took by openly criticizing a sitting Democratic president.
"George stepped up and took a bullet for the team, and now everyone's blaming him for the bloodbath," the insider continued. "He thinks Obama should come forward and say that George did the right thing and it isn't his fault that it didn't work out."
Clooney's frustration is compounded by his longtime rivalry with President-elect Donald Trump, who now has a clear path to the White House. Clooney reportedly fears Trump may take advantage of his high-profile involvement to launch personal attacks.
Adding to the fallout, Clooney has faced criticism even from within Hollywood. While other celebrities like Beyoncé supported Harris's campaign, Clooney's outspoken calls for Biden's withdrawal made him the focal point of the Democratic Party's strategy.
"George feels like he was set up to fail," a source said. "He did what Obama asked and put his credibility on the line, and now he's been left to deal with the fallout alone."
As the dust settles, the incident has strained Clooney's relationship with Obama, casting a shadow over a friendship that once symbolized the close ties between Hollywood and Democratic leadership.